Lee Is In Where With Once True Love Binding Again Waits Roots After more than a Sometimes, we Rod Antone decade, Lee takes think our first will be highlighted in this on leadership role our one-and-only … month’s Sakada in Council. Offspring. Page 1 Page 1 Page 5 January 2020 · Vol 4 No1 FILIPINO AMERICAN VOICE • UPLIFTING OUR COMMUNITY FREE inside Alice Lee The new chairperson of the County Council aims to work together. Vanessa Joy Domingo Boomer, Uncle or Aunty? Dinengdeng and Pinakbet explores the issue. p7 Let’s Talk Pinoy’s Angel shares her past which takes an unexpected twist. p9 In the Chairperson's seat. PHOTO: VANESSA JOY DOMINGO n mid-December 2019, cil’s new Chairperson. time as a former Council back towards the Maui County Kelly King announced her The Council chamber is Chair in 1995) and continued Council when she announced I resignation as chairper- anything but new to Coun- her work as a Director of the her intent to seek the Wailuku son of the Maui County Coun- cilmember Alice Lee. She sits Department of Housing and seat in order to bring unity cil in order to lead the new comfortably in this environ- Human Concerns from 1999 and collaboration back to the Have you eaten “Billy the committee on climate change ment, eager to continue serv- through 2006. By then, she council. Shrimp”? It’s comfort food. and spend more time with her ing Maui County as she has thought her career in Maui Despite her role as the new p11 family. A week later, in a 7—2 done before. Lee was a former politics had concluded. How- Council Chairperson, the vote, Councilmember Alice Maui County Councilmember ever, after 12 years in “retire- agenda for the Council hasn’t Lee was elected as the Coun- from 1989—1999 (including ment,” she found her way see LEE p.3 Love ... Better the Second Time Around Alfredo G. Evangelista | A SSISTANT EDITOR n a few weeks, it will be where you taking your other time. half for dinner? Jollibee’s? (If I Nope, I’m not talking you haven’t heard, they’re about the Super Bowl (how now open in Kahului.) In case can it be Super if my Raiders you’re completely clueless, aren’t in it or my wife’s Sea- February 14 is Valentine’s Day hawks?) And I’m definitely not and yes, it’s a commercial hol- talking about Ground Hog Day iday–cards, flowers (or lei), on February 2. Nor Shrove chocolates, gifts, and dinner. I Tuesday aka Malassadas Day guess Jollibee’s can be roman- on February 25. tic but my suggestion is check- Yup, I’m talking about ing Open Table NOW! to Valentine’s Day. Uh huh, see 2ND TIME p.2 Nora and Craig (above) during Nora and Craig (right) Nora and Craig with Mom. their Marriage Encounter with Bishop Larry Silva. PHOTO COURTESY NORA TAKUSHI weekend. PHOTO COURTESY NORA TAKUSHI PHOTO COURTESY NORA TAKUSHI Nora and at their wedding with sister Lani, daughters and son. Nora and Craig (above) on their wedding day. PHOTO COURTESY NORA TAKUSHI Nora and Craig (above) with their family. PHOTO COURTESY NORA TAKUSHI PHOTO COURTESY NORA TAKUSHI Grand Marnier souffle from Four Sea- And then again, there are several of brought Nora home, Craig gave Nora 2nd Time … sons that is off the menu and requires us, who were not successful the first a hug–normal for local kids–and a a twenty-four hour reservation.) time around but Love is better the sec- kiss! “He gave me a kiss not on my from p. 1 Not to be insensitive (I can hear it ond time around. (Oh yeah, I’m aware cheeks but on my lips and I was furi- make your reservations ... and guys, now, the commercialization of Valen- of a few who have had multiple at- ous,” recalls Nora, thinking Craig had find a place with awesome desserts– tine’s Day doesn’t take into account the tempts.) I’m sure the Hallmark Chan- guts to do that. Nora rushed out with- whether it’s halo halo, Kona mud pie sadness felt by those who are unmar- nel will feature quite a few of the sec- out even saying good night. “Craig did topped with Screwball, or my favorite, ried) but Valentine’s Day is really for ond marriage love stories in the next call the next day to apologize, saying soufflés! (IMHO, the best soufflé is the those who are in love–or trying to be. few days. he usually doesn’t do that kind of stuff When Nora Cabanilla moved to Cal- but he couldn’t help himself that ifornia for school in 1978, little did she night,” said Nora. “And that was the expect that she would meet her future beginning of our friendship which in- husband–a Maui boy–in California cluded dinners with friends, giving me through her blonde, blue eyed sorority rides to the airport when I came sister. Her sorority sister invited Nora home, going bowling, and we even to her dad’s 50th birthday party be- went to a C&K concert.” cause she wanted Nora to meet her Craig developed feelings for Nora cousin, who would pick her up. “On and told Nora’s friend Nilda that Craig the day of the party, the door bell rang had feelings for Nora but he remem- and I looked through the peep hole. I bered what Nora had told him, albeit told myself I was not going and would Nora doesn’t recall saying “I don’t date pretend I wasn’t home,” said Cabanil- local boys.” Craig returned home to la. “I was so scared because there was Maui after four years while Nora this 5’ 8", 235 pounds, local boy with stayed in California. They would see a full on beard (like Santa) and a each other during the summer or dark tan–and he was wearing shorts, Christmas, hang out on occasion, or a tank top t-shirt, and rubba slippas see each other at the Foxy Lady disco while I was decked out in a nice dress. in the Royal Lahaina Hotel. “I would But he looked at me and reassured me see him with his friends and he would with a smile I wasn’t overdressed, say- come over to talk me and give me a ing ‘Nah, no need you okay.’” hug but no kiss because he was with Cabanilla’s fears increased when someone,” says Nora. “I was happy for she saw his vehicle–a van. “I stopped him but a little sad because I lost a walking and refused to go with him, good friend. Years later, I came home thinking ‘Oh, my God. I’m going to to get married and found out Craig die ... in LA!’ But he opened the door, was going through a divorce.” held my hands to help me and I felt Ten years later, Nora had a life something different–he was warm change herself, and was a single moth- and gentle like a brother. We talked er with two beautiful girls when lo and about Maui and he knew my cousin behold she ran into her best friend. “It Lawrence who owned the service sta- was like a reunion because it felt like tion in Lahaina and I learned he, Craig we never lost touch. He was there Takushi, went to Maui High School again, like a brother, that year I lost with my cousins. At the party, Craig my Dad too, so it was a difficult time never ignored me or left me alone for me but Craig would call, we would with strangers, he watched over me stay up all night talking on the phone like a big brother.” and he would hear me crying. The In the 70s local music artists like next day, I received a beautiful floral Cecilio & Kapono and Kalapana would arrangement at school that said ‘Just bring locals together to appreciate to brighten your day. Love, Craig.’ I their Hawai‘i roots. Nora and Craig smiled and thanked the Lord for send- learned that both loved Cecilio & ing me a good friend.” Craig and Nora Kapono so Nora felt safe and comfort- would rekindle their friendship by go- able with Craig. And when Craig see 2ND TIME p.4 2 | Fil-Am Voice | January 2020 | Vol 4 • No 1 occupant groups to ensure that the Lee … less disadvantaged folks on Maui aren’t contributing as much higher from p. 1 percentage of their income towards changed. “The Council’s priorities are taxes. We are not finished with our pretty much the same as when we first work in the area of tax reform but we started the term one year ago.” says really don’t start making our decisions Lee. “And that is–we are committed until April or May. We’ve done a lot of to providing more workforce housing. outreach to get input and ideas from That’s one of the top priorities. The residents.” second priority is to reduce the Other projects on hand include ad- amount of homelessness on Maui be- dressing the increasing rate of the vis- cause that’s a horrible problem that itor industry and tourism and the for- we are dealing with and mation of the new Com- have been dealing with “ … we are mittee of Climate for years. But we need Change and Resiliency. to dial up our efforts. committed Lee hopes to ask the And then of course, en- tourist industry to effec- sure that our economy is to providing tively use grants to edu- stable, so people have more work- cate tourists that visit employment opportuni- Maui to practice alert- ties.